After more than six years of teasers, speculation threads, Discord theories, and the constant “when is Silksong coming out?” debates across social media, the long-awaited sequel has finally arrived. In South Africa, the game launches day-and-date with the global release across PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Game Pass, giving local players immediate access regardless of platform.
For a sequel that spent years under a magnifying glass, the final build lands with surprising confidence. Silksong is fast, sharp, beautifully animated, and far more story-driven than its predecessor. Whether you followed every development update or you’re stepping into Pharloom for the first time, the result is a Metroidvania that feels familiar yet unmistakably its own.
Story & Setting — Rising Through Pharloom’s Strange Kingdom
Silksong begins not with a descent, but with an ascent. Hornet awakens in chains, dragged into the distant kingdom of Pharloom. Instead of Hollow Knight’s quiet, crumbling melancholy, Pharloom feels tense and ceremonial — a place shaped by rituals, hierarchy, and constant pressure.
Team Cherry keeps the story intentionally light, but the world itself carries most of the narrative weight. Pharloom whispers with political undertones, shifting loyalties, and characters who seem trapped in roles they didn’t choose. Rather than using long monologues or codex entries, the storytelling leans into small gestures, quick exchanges, and expressive animations that reveal who its people really are.
For longtime fans, there’s a familiar sense of recognition woven into these spaces. The community spent years dissecting trailers and searching for clues during long stretches without updates. As you move through brittle coral caverns, towering bell structures, and dense industrial corridors, you can almost trace how those early glimpses transformed into their final form. The long wait shaped expectations — but it also made the fully realised world feel richer, more layered, and more deliberate.
Gameplay Mechanics & Combat — Sharp, Agile, and Built Around Momentum
If the first game rewarded patience, Silksong encourages motion. This time, combat and movement revolve around Hornet’s agility, giving every encounter a sense of lift and speed.
It’s here where Hollow Knight Silksong gameplay stands out most clearly:
- thread-dashes let you re-angle yourself mid-air
- rope swings turn arenas into vertical playgrounds
- short, punchy attack animations keep you aggressive rather than reactive
- healing is now based on Silk segments, encouraging quick, tactical recovery
This shift creates a combat loop that feels both demanding and fluid. It’s fast enough to challenge reflexes but readable enough for newcomers to eventually catch the rhythm.
Where the earlier title felt grounded and weighty, Silksong slices forward with a blade-like precision — the entire game’s movement flow feels engineered around momentum.
The Needle as Weapon & Movement Tool
Hornet’s needle isn’t just a damage source; it’s the anchor point of the entire combat system. The weapon doubles as a traversal device, letting you launch, leap, or redirect your path depending on the enemy or terrain. The result is a style of play that rewards discipline but constantly nudges you toward improvisation.
Healing changes further reinforce that energy. Instead of banking collected Soul, you manage Silk segments — a mechanic that keeps recovery fast but controlled, pushing players to heal only when they’ve created their own opening.
This design supports the aggressive but fair structure at the heart of Silksong’s identity.
Enemies — Personality, Precision, and Over 100 New Threats
Silksong brings a massive roster of 100+ enemy types, each with its own timing, reach, and movement style. Pharloom’s creatures feel deliberate — flyers commit to long swooping arcs, crawlers hug uneven terrain, and spellcasters constantly adjust their spacing to keep you pressured.
In this sequel:
- combat moves at a quicker pace
- enemies track Hornet more intelligently
- encounters are built to highlight her speed rather than punish it
Even weak grunts feel hand-animated with clear intent, something Team Cherry has always excelled at. The result is an ecosystem that looks alive, unpredictable, and consistently challenging without feeling unfair.
Exploration & Level Design — Vertical, Layered, and Easy to Get Lost In
If combat defines the moment-to-moment pacing, exploration defines the heart of Silksong. Pharloom is built upward, forming a layered kingdom with routes that fold into one another in unexpected ways. Each region presents its own culture, colour palette, and enemy behaviours.
A few examples:
- The Coral Wastes echo with pale skeleton-like structures and flowing currents
- Chorus Tower hides rhythmic threats tied to sound
- Bellsmith’s Domain pulses with machinery, gears, and molten metal
Unlike many Metroidvanias, Silksong improves clarity without losing mystery. Thanks to better markers, cleaner silhouettes, and a more readable overall map structure, navigating Pharloom feels rewarding rather than confusing.
The new quest board system also helps structure your optional objectives — a welcome addition for players who enjoy more guided exploration.
Bosses & Difficulty Curve — Acrobatic, Demanding, and Full of Personality
With more than 30 bosses, Silksong’s major encounters are some of Team Cherry’s most striking work. Every fight feels handcrafted — fast, expressive, and built around vertical movement. Some battles play out like duels, others like scripted performances, but all of them lean into Hornet’s agility.
The lineup of Silksong bosses stands out because:
- arenas often encourage mid-air combat
- patterns ramp up but remain readable
- late-game encounters push reflexes without feeling random
- each victory feels earned
Early on, the game is more forgiving than many expect, giving new players time to adjust. Later areas, however, turn up the pressure in a way that longtime fans will immediately appreciate. It’s a smart balance — fair, challenging, but never exhausting.
Soundtrack, Art & Atmosphere — A Richer, Brighter World
Composer Christopher Larkin returns with a score that feels sharper and more theatrical than before. The Silksong soundtrack often mixes bells, light percussion, and quick melodic motifs that track Hornet’s movement. Certain pieces subtly shift depending on elevation or arena pressure, making the music feel alive alongside the gameplay.
Visually, Silksong pushes the studio’s hand-drawn style further than ever:
- animations are smoother
- character expressions are clearer
- lighting and colour design give each region a unique identity
Pharloom feels like a kingdom built to impress — ornate, ritualistic, and full of tiny environmental details that hint at its hidden history.
Performance & Platforms in South Africa — Solid on All Systems
Silksong performs well across all platforms available in the ZA region.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
PC
- near-instant loads on SSD
- high FPS even on mid-range hardware
- ideal for players wanting maximum responsiveness
PS5
- crisp 4K output
- smooth frame pacing
- DualSense rumble feels subtle but meaningful
Xbox Series X|S
- excellent optimisation
- available on Xbox Game Pass South Africa
- cloud saves sync cleanly across devices
Nintendo Switch
- handheld runs at reliable 60 FPS in most areas
- slight dips during high-particle boss fights
- docked mode offers clearer presentation
File size is moderate, answering the common question: “how big is Hollow Knight Silksong?” — small enough not to stress Switch storage or fibre caps in SA households.
As for hollow knight silksong price, storefronts in South Africa follow standard global pricing, though local retailers like BT Games and Gamefinity may run occasional promos.
Game Length — How Long Is Silksong?
Players asking “silksong game length” can expect:
- around 20–25 hours for a straightforward run
- 35–40+ hours for players chasing secrets and optional quests
Completionists will find even more thanks to layered biomes and multiple questlines.
Final Verdict — A Confident, Agile Sequel (Score: 9/10)
Silksong doesn’t try to repeat the original. Instead, it builds upward — literally and figuratively. The game pushes speed, momentum, and precision while introducing a world that feels fresh from the moment you enter Pharloom.
What you get:
- fast, expressive hollow knight silksong gameplay
- memorable boss design
- beautiful animation work
- a soundtrack that elevates every encounter
- strong performance on all ZA platforms
For many players — newcomers and old fans alike — this is exactly the kind of sequel worth the six-year wait.Silksong feels confident, focused, and full of personality. A standout release of 2025 and one of the strongest Metroidvanias available across PC, PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Game Pass South Africa.